Course Outline
CRM400 Advanced Issues in Criminology & Justice
Course Coordinator:Bricklyn Priebe (bpriebe@usc.edu.au) School:School of Law and Society
2026Trimester 2
UniSC Sunshine Coast |
Blended learning | Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online. |
Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.
What is this course about?
Description
In this course students will undertake an in-depth analysis of some of the major theoretical perspectives and debates that have influenced the contemporary direction of crime and justice-related research, policy and practice. This course exposes students to the social constructions of crime and criminality across local and international contexts and builds your skills for solving complex problems. You will research, analyse, evaluate and communicate key issues related to specific problems using media sources, government reviews and global scientific research to build these key graduate skills.
How will this course be delivered?
| Activity | Hours | Beginning Week | Frequency |
| Blended learning | |||
| Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Face-to-face workshops | 3hrs | Week 1 | 11 times |
Course Topics
Contemporary issues in Criminology
Mature Content
What level is this course?
400 Level (Graduate)
What is the unit value of this course?
24 units
How does this course contribute to my learning?
| Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... | Graduate Qualities Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... | |
| 1 | Demonstrate advanced theoretical and technical knowledge related to a specific topic related to Criminology and Justice | Knowledgeable |
| 2 | Demonstrate advanced skills in locating, evaluating and synthesising information from a variety of academic and non-academic sources | Creative and critical thinker |
| 3 | Communicate a clear and coherent exposition of knowledge and ideas to contribute to the discipline | Engaged |
| 4 | Demonstrate autonomy, well-developed judgement, adaptability and responsibility for own learning and practice | Empowered |
Am I eligible to enrol in this course?
Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.
Pre-requisites
Enrolled in Program AR409
Co-requisites
Not applicable
Anti-requisites
Not applicable
Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)
Not applicable
Microcredential Information
Not applicable
How am I going to be assessed?
Grading Scale
Standard Grading (GRD)
| High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL). |
Details of early feedback on progress
Feedback will be provided using formative activities during workshops to prepare you for each assessment task.
Assessment tasks
| Delivery mode | Task No. | Assessment Product | Individual or Group | Weighting % | What is the duration / length? | When should I submit? | Where should I submit it? |
| All | 1 | Activity Participation | Individual | 10% | Weeks 1-11 |
Refer to Format | In Class |
| All | 2 | Written Piece | Individual | 30% | 2500 words |
Week 4 | Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check |
| All | 3 | Artefact - Creative | Individual | 30% | 10 minutes |
Refer to Format | Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check |
| All | 4 | Oral | Individual | 30% | 40 minutes |
Refer to Format | In Class |
| All - Assessment Task 1:Activity Participation and Feedback | |||||||||||||||||||
| Goal: | The goal of this task is to encourage you to develop autonomy, judgement, adaptability and responsibility for your own learning and practice. |
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| Product: | Activity Participation | ||||||||||||||||||
| Authorship Statement: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Format: | Every student is expected to attend and participate actively in class discussions across at least 9 of the classes following Week 1. This will include providing formal feedback to seminar presenters. |
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| Criteria: |
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| Generic Skills: | |||||||||||||||||||
| All - Assessment Task 2:Written Piece | ||||||||||||||||
| Goal: | The goal of this task is to research, summarise and critique a topical issue that considers current and future directions within criminology and justice practice. |
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| Product: | Written Piece | |||||||||||||||
| Authorship Statement: | ||||||||||||||||
| Format: | A 2500-word individual written task, excluding references. The specific topic will be covered in class during Week 1. You will have the opportunity to gain formative feedback to prepare for this task by participating in class discussion and other class activities. |
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| Criteria: |
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| Generic Skills: | ||||||||||||||||
| All - Assessment Task 3:Recorded Multi-Media Presentation | ||||||||||||||||
| Goal: | The goal of this task is to develop your skills in presenting issues related to criminology and justice to diverse audiences. |
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| Product: | Artefact - Creative | |||||||||||||||
| Authorship Statement: | ||||||||||||||||
| Format: | You are to record a 10-minute multi-media presentation for the class on a specific topic selected from course content and confirmed with the course coordinator across Weeks 1 to 3. In the presentation, you will demonstrate your understanding of contemporary issues in crime and justice, and discuss appropriate research methodologies and ethical considerations relevant to research on the topic. Your presentation will be uploaded to Canvas. |
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| Criteria: |
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| Generic Skills: | ||||||||||||||||
| All - Assessment Task 4:Seminar Presentation and Facilitation | |||||||||||||||||||
| Goal: | To lead and facilitate a seminar and critical debates on a specific contemporary issue in crime and criminal justice. |
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| Product: | Oral | ||||||||||||||||||
| Authorship Statement: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Format: | 40 minute in-class seminar presentation and group facilitation on a specific contemporary issue. Guidelines will be provided on Canvas early in the course. This is an interactive and engaging presentation. You are responsible for leading and moderating participant discussion. |
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| Criteria: |
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| Generic Skills: | Collaboration |
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Directed study hours
A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.
What resources do I need to undertake this course?
Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.
Prescribed text(s) or course reader
Specific requirements
Not applicable
How are risks managed in this course?
What administrative information is relevant to this course?
Assessment: Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.
Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.
In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.
Assessment: Additional Requirements
Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment
Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale
Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying: The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4% The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct
Assessment: Submission penalties
Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.
The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty
Links to relevant University policy and procedures
For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:
- Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
- Review of Assessment and Final Grades
- Supplementary Assessment
- Central Examinations
- Deferred Examinations
- Student Conduct
- Students with a Disability
For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching
Student Charter
UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.
General Enquiries
For course-specific questions, contact your teaching staff or Course Coordinator.
For other enquiries or to access support, please contact Student Central: